Four holiday parties in one weekend and my weekly workouts
Well that was another good weekend, my friends! I hope you enjoyed a little cheer over the past couple of days. And here we are waking up to the week of Christmas. Dave and I are heading out of town tomorrow, so we’re just about in vacation mode over here. Let’s talk weekend and workouts.
Orangetheory holiday party in Danville
On a very rainy Friday evening, I joined all of my fellow Orangetheory Fitness Walnut Creek team members for a holiday get-together. We wore our Christmas sweaters and met up at Danville Bowl for a night of bowling, shenanigans and gym-people fun. We also did a White Elephant gift exchange. And let’s just say I had a low number in the game, started out with a great gift, which was a Warriors throw blanket, got that stolen away from me, then opened up a big Orangetheory flask, got that stolen away from me and walked away the proud owner of a snowman candle. Ha!
We celebrated the night like only true fitness folk would when bowling, with some physical challenges. The rules: If you threw a gutter ball you did 10 push-ups. Then we switched it up to 20 prisoner squats. It was hilarious. We certainly had the attention of the bowlers around us. Somehow I got out of having to do any exercises in my bowling shoes, but I still didn’t score very well as a bowler. Honestly, I don’t have any good pictures to show from this night, but I ended up staying out pretty late and had so much fun. Good times with the OTF team!
24 Hour Fitness holiday party in the City
On Saturday, I attended my second gym holiday party of the weekend in the city at the 24 Hour Fitness California Street location, where I have taken many Les Mills trainings, and where I used to have a regular class on the schedule when I lived in the City. There were a couple dozen group fitness instructors from the area there, and in addition to socializing, we got to try out a few new classes, as well as some existing ones.
I wasn’t smiling like this during the hover challenge, that’s for sure.
First, we did about 10 minutes of barefoot training program, which was done with no shoes on and included some golf-ball foot massaging and bodyweight work. Then, we did about 10 minutes of POP Pilates, a program created by the very popular blogger Cassey Ho, which I’ve been wanting to try for a while and had some unique moves. Then, we did 10 minutes of U-Jam, a hip-hop dance program, which was totally fun for me. The gathering culminated in a little fitness challenge in order to win a prize, and I’m happy to say I held a hover position for five full minutes without a break and was awarded a fancy 24 Hour Fitness “Group X Instructor” sweatshirt, which I will definitely be putting to use.
By the way, I took the BART into the City and listened to some Chalene Johnson podcasts on the way there and back, which was the perfect way to pass the time. I haven’t listened to a podcast since I was at home in Florida for Thanksgiving, and my queue of good ones is getting long.
Look who came to pick me up from the train station?
Neighbors holiday party in Walnut Creek
In the evening, Dave and I walked about four steps next door to our direct neighbor’s townhouse for a holiday party. We met some new couples who also live in our development, had tons of party nibbles and drinks and chatted the night away. We ended up staying for a very long time and didn’t walk back home until after midnight! It was really nice getting to know people in our community a little better, especially over wine.
It’s not easy to get Rudy to look at the camera during a selfie, but we did get this one shot before we headed out for the party on Saturday night. Sadly, Rudy had to stay back at home.
Warriors holiday party in Oakland
On Sunday morning, I went to a long yoga class, which was just what my body needed. I’ve mentioned that I’ve been feeling pretty stiff lately with less yoga in my life, so this class was tough for me. It was a pretty challenging 75-minute session, but felt awesome to work up a sweat with heavy breathing and flowing yoga poses. I walked out of there feeling about six inches taller. Good stuff!
In the evening, Dave and I went to Plank in Oakland for his work party, which is where the Warriors holiday party was held last year as well. We had some food and drinks and chatted with fellow employees and their significant others for a couple hours before heading home to call it a night and end the weekend.
Two drink tickets, a buffet and tasty desserts made for a good night.
So yes, that was a total of four holiday parties in two days. Woohoo!
My weekly fitness and workout recap
Every Monday, I like to share my recent workouts, so let’s get to it …
(Photo credit to Leah Bentley Photography, 2015.)
Weekly Workouts
- Monday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
- Tuesday: Took a one-hour Orangetheory class
- Wednesday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
- Thursday: Taught a 45-minute BODYPUMP and 30-minute core class
- Friday: Rest day
- Saturday: 10 minutes of Pilates, 10 minutes of dance, 5-minute hover
- Sunday: Took a 75-minute vinyasa flow yoga class
What was good about my week of workouts?
This past week included a good amount of variety of movement, a full day of rest and a full yoga session. I picked up weights three times between BODYPUMP and Orangetheory and did cardio three times as well. The highlight of the week was definitely loosening up in a long yoga class.
What could have been better about my workouts?
This past week had all of my resistance sessions back-to-back again, which keeps happening to me due to my teaching schedule. I definitely prefer to have a rest day between lifting weights, but it’s hard to avoid when I teach BODYPUMP on consecutive days. Overall, not too many complaints about my week of fitness.
Hope you have a great start to your week, my friends! (P.S. Thanks to Meghan for hosting today’s “Week in Review” link-up.)
Weekend fun and a #workout round-up. Check this out ... #WeeklyWorkouts Click To TweetQuestions of the day
What was the highlight of your weekend?
Are you traveling for Christmas or staying put?
What a fun weekend! Rudy on top of the car is too cute! I’m surprised he stayed up there like that.
Hi Megan, Dave is actually holding him from below, but for some reason he can’t be seen in the picture hahah! Hope you had a nice weekend, lady!
Wow, busy weekend! I love what you did at the bowling alley if you rolled a gutter ball, that’s awesome. And congrats on holding a hover for 5 minutes, I’m not sure if I could do that, but free clothes is definitely some motivation. We are traveling tomorrow after work to Cleveland (my hometown) and then Buffalo for Christmas (my husbands hometown). Always crazy traveling this time of year, but I love it! Have a great week and safe trip for the holidays!
Good luck to you with your travels, Patricia! 🙂
Where did you get the Nike tennis shoes where you are doing the hover? LOVE them!
Happy Holidays!
Hi Kim! Those are some Nike Pegasus shoes — my FAVE! They are on sale right now too. Here they are: http://goo.gl/i1Qtmz also available at Macy’s!
Could these shoes be used to do plyomeyrics or as crossfits or wouldn’t you recommend it?
Thanks so much Ashley!
Kim
I think so. I wear them for cardio, because there is plenty of cushioning.
Rudy totally owns that car 😀 I love the bowling with fitness repercussions–I bet that was hilarious to see!
It was totally fun, Susie! Hope you had a nice weekend, lady! 🙂
What a great weekend of celebrating. Too funny how both your gym Christmas parties involved workouts.
Well the Orangetheory one wasn’t an “official workout” hahah, but gym people like to work out, so we tend to do that when we get together! Hope you had a nice weekend too, Jen! 🙂
Wow, that all sounds so fun! I actually didn’t have any holiday parties this year. I guess we had one on Saturday, but I sent Aaron and I stayed home with the little one. I wish we had neighbors our age. Both houses beside us are currently empty and getting ready to go up for sale and the others all have older people. One day, right?!
Hi Heather! That’s okay, lady! I’m sure you prefer staying home with your little one this year anyways! 🙂 Hope your weekend was nice regardless!
Sounds like such an awesome weekend, Ashley! And Rudy in the car — my heart is melted <3 I'll be heading over to my parents' for Christmas, but they're only about a 20 minute drive away so I won't have to go far.
That’s a nice and easy holiday trip, Amanda! Lucky girl!! Have fun! 🙂
I’m SO excited to come home for the holiday! I’m planning on lots of CA outdoor time like a trip to half moon bay and hiking in portola valley. I miss being able to see the ocean in landlocked Colorado. I’m thinking a trip to SF and the ferry building for some delicious gluten free treats is also going to happen. Safe travels this week and merry Christmas!
Hi Anna! Ohhh I bet you have a long to-do list to get around to all the fab California spot! Have so much fun!!!!
Such a fun weekend!! Holiday parties are the best. Also, I saw you mentioned yoga and I’m not sure which studio you go to, but I just started going to CorePower in WC. You should come take a class with me there sometime soon! 🙂
Hi Hayley! I love CorePower!!! I’ve only been to the WC location one time, but I’m a big fan of the heated standard classes there, as well as the sculpt classes. I went to a random Concord studio for my latest class, but it’s not my home studio. Hope you had a nice weekend!!
4 parties in one weekend is INSANEEE. I hosted my first Christmas party this weekend and while it was tons of fun, i’m glad I don’t have to do it for another year! Also you look gorgeous in the photos and your tree looks splendid!! so many lights!
That’s awesome you hosted, but I know how much work goes into before and after the party. Have a great day, Beverley!
I love all the party shenanigans. That sounds like a blast, especially the bowling, minus the push ups of course. 🙂 I’ll happily leave those to you.
Your pup is so adorable. Too bad he couldn’t go to the party too.
Safe travels. Enjoy your holidays and thanks for linking up.
Of course, Meghan!! Thank You!!
What a FUN weekend! It’s so nice to get out and celebrate the holidays! We had a low key friday which included wine and a movie with my best friend while the Hubs was out, then Saturday we ‘slept in’ until 830 and then I met mom to go to a Christmas craft fair which was a bust but we did end up going to get Sully’s foot printed into a ‘mistletoe’ as a cute gift for my MIL and my mom for Christmas! Saturday night my husband and I got away to attend his friends engagement party (they are getting married in Cabo in March so we won’t get to go ..buuuut I would have loved to!) so it was nice to see some friends and catch up before the holiday week starts!
We have all our family in town so no travelling for us though it does make for a hectic few days and throw a baby into the mix I’m sure there will be more then one meltdown and I’m not talking from the baby! lol
Have a wonderful restful week and happy holidays !!
hahahahah well … meltdowns are bound to happen, but I hope they don’t happen to you! And enjoy your time with your family, Fiona! 🙂 At least you don’t have to travel!! 🙂
What a fun weekend filled with parties! Holiday parties are always fun and I love how yours included some fitness too 😉
They sure did, Giselle! I hope you had a nice weekend! 🙂
Ummmm if I could look as gorgeous as you while planking, that would be great!!!!! What a fun week – and I really liked your fitness break-down. It was neat to see how on Friday, you stayed active, but kept things light with it. Shows that it is so easy to get moving, no matter what. All of the parties sound so fun, and you two make such a stunningcouple – and that pup is the cutest! 🙂
On my end, we are headed off to Australia and Fiji tomorrow so I am completely beyond stoked, but it makes this the longest day ever at work today!! Happy holidays to you and yours! I hope it is a wonderful one – I still canNOT believe this week is Christmas with 2016 creeping right around the corner. Amazing how fast 2015 went by – any travels on your end? xx SS
Hi Shannon! Wow! You’ve got a big trip ahead! Totally cool! We’re heading to Southern California tomorrow! Be safe and have so much fun, lady! 🙂
You were all over the place! Sounds like a really fun time though. I love your workout recaps! They’re always so interesting and I love seeing how you incorporate fitness into your life. Hope your Monday is going well, Ashley! 🙂
Hi Julia! Thanks so much!! I hope you had a great weekend as well, lady! 🙂
Hey! I just happened across your blog as I’m looking for Bay Area bloggers to follow. I love chalene johnson and I listen to both of her podcasts. She has awesome energy.
I’m also a fitness trainer (although not practicing) and on hiatus from my fitness blog right now.
Anyway, great to find you and hello from San Carlos (on the pennisula).
Cheers
Caren
Hi Caren!! YAY! Thanks for saying hi! I love to connect with fitness lovers in the Bay! Let’s definitely stay in touch! 🙂 And I’m pretty new to podcasts, but Chalene’s are great! Stay dry out there.
Hey girl heeeey!! It looks/sounds like you had an an amazing time at all of your holiday parties. Can’t lie, we skipped out of a lot of our’s to go skiing in Breckenridge for four days before we scoot home for the holidays. Whoops. :-/ Ha!
Ohh yay!!! Enjoy your time there, Jessica! How fun! 🙂
Glad to see you checked out Chalene’s podcast! If you are enjoying it then you definitely need to add her on Periscope! She scopes pretty much every day and they are always hilarious yet informative!
Good to know, Audie!! I love her voice heheh, so clean. 🙂 She has great advice!
Love the listing of your workouts, also we are traveling for the christmas break! Merry merry christmas to you!
Merry Christmas, Jayne!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
What is the holiday season for if not for parties?! Sounds like you had a blast at them all. I must ask- what is the 10 minutes of hover after pilates and dance? Color me intrigued!
Hi Cayanne! The 5-minute hover was done after all of the Pilates and dance sessions that day — so it was the last bit of working out I did! It was tough!:)